Chrysler Hemi engine
Encyclopedia
V8 engine
A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....
engines built by Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
with a hemispherical combustion chamber
Hemi engine
A Hemi engine is an internal combustion engine in which the roof of each cylinder's combustion chambers is of hemispherical form.- History :...
. Three different types of Hemi engines have been built by Chrysler for automobiles: the first (known as the Chrysler FirePower engine) from 1951–1958, the second from 1964–1971, and the third beginning in 2003. Although Chrysler is most identified with the use of Hemi as marketing term, many other auto manufacturers have incorporated similar designs.
During the 1970s and 1980s, Chrysler also used the Hemi name for their Australian-made Hemi-6 engine and applied it to the 4-cylinder Mitsubishi 2.6L engine they installed in various front-drive vehicles in the North American market.
Hemispherical engines
A hemisphericalSphere
A sphere is a perfectly round geometrical object in three-dimensional space, such as the shape of a round ball. Like a circle in two dimensions, a perfect sphere is completely symmetrical around its center, with all points on the surface lying the same distance r from the center point...
(i.e., bowl-shaped) combustion chamber
Combustion chamber
A combustion chamber is the part of an engine in which fuel is burned.-Internal combustion engine:The hot gases produced by the combustion occupy a far greater volume than the original fuel, thus creating an increase in pressure within the limited volume of the chamber...
allows the valve
Valve
A valve is a device that regulates, directs or controls the flow of a fluid by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various passageways. Valves are technically pipe fittings, but are usually discussed as a separate category...
s of a two valve-per-cylinder engine to face each other across the chamber, rather than opening side-by-side. This creates more space in the combustion chamber roof for the use of larger valves and also straightens the airflow passages through the cylinder head. This creates what is known as a cross-flow head, where the intake charge flows directly across the chamber to the exhaust valve located directly opposite it. These features significantly improve the engine's airflow capacity, which can result in relatively high power output from a given piston displacement. But the design can also significantly increase the flow of incompletely combusted air-fuel mixture straight out of the exhaust valve. With a hemi combustion chamber, there is minimal quench
Quench
In materials science, quenching is the rapid cooling of a workpiece to obtain certain material properties. It prevents low-temperature processes, such as phase transformations, from occurring by only providing a narrow window of time in which the reaction is both thermodynamically favorable and...
and swirl to burn the fuel-air mix thoroughly and quickly; the spark plug
Spark plug
A spark plug is an electrical device that fits into the cylinder head of some internal combustion engines and ignites compressed fuels such as aerosol, gasoline, ethanol, and liquefied petroleum gas by means of an electric spark.Spark plugs have an insulated central electrode which is connected by...
is frequently located at or near the centroid of the chamber to facilitate complete combustion. Hemispherical combustion chambers, because of their lack of quench, are more sensitive to fuel octane rating
Octane rating
Octane rating or octane number is a standard measure of the anti-knock properties of a motor or aviation fuel. The higher the octane number, the more compression the fuel can withstand before detonating...
; a given compression ratio will require a higher octane rating to avoid ping in a hemi engine than in a wedge engine. Engines with hemispherical combustion chambers often use dome-topped piston
Piston
A piston is a component of reciprocating engines, reciprocating pumps, gas compressors and pneumatic cylinders, among other similar mechanisms. It is the moving component that is contained by a cylinder and is made gas-tight by piston rings. In an engine, its purpose is to transfer force from...
s to attain the desired compression ratio
Compression ratio
The 'compression ratio' of an internal-combustion engine or external combustion engine is a value that represents the ratio of the volume of its combustion chamber from its largest capacity to its smallest capacity...
.
The hemi head usually has intake and exhaust valve stems that point in different directions, requiring a large, wide cylinder head and complex rocker arm
Rocker arm
Generally referred to within the internal combustion engine of automotive, marine, motorcycle and reciprocating aviation engines, the rocker arm is a reciprocating lever that conveys radial movement from the cam lobe into linear movement at the poppet valve to open it...
geometry in both cam-in-block
Cam-in-block
The cam-in-block valvetrain layout of piston engines is one where the camshaft is placed within the cylinder block, usually beside and slightly above the crankshaft in a straight engine or directly above the crankshaft in the V of a V engine...
and overhead cam engines. This adds to the overall width of the engine, limiting the vehicles it can be installed in.
WWII
Chrysler developed their first experimental hemisphercal-valved engine for use in the RepublicRepublic Aviation Company
The Republic Aviation Corporation was an American aircraft manufacturer based in Farmingdale, Long Island, New York. Originally known as the Seversky Aircraft Company, the company was responsible for the design and production of many important military aircraft, including the P-47 Thunderbolt, F-84...
P-47 Thunderbolt
P-47 Thunderbolt
Republic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
fighter aircraft. The XIV-2220 engine was an inverted V16 rated at 2500 hp. The P-47 was already in production with a Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney is a U.S.-based aerospace manufacturer with global service operations. It is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation . Pratt & Whitney's aircraft engines are widely used in both civil aviation and military aviation. Its headquarters are in East Hartford, Connecticut, USA...
radial engine
Radial engine
The radial engine is a reciprocating type internal combustion engine configuration in which the cylinders point outward from a central crankshaft like the spokes on a wheel...
when the XIV-2220 flew successfully in trials in 1945 as a possible upgrade, but the war was winding down and it did not go into production. However, the exercise gave Chrysler engineers valuable research and development experience with two-valve hemi combustion chamber dynamics and parameters.
In addition to the aircraft engine, Chrysler and Continental
Continental Motors Company
Continental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in...
worked together to develop the air-cooled AV-1790-5B V12 Hemi engine used in the M-47 Patton tank
Patton tank
Patton tank may refer to:*M46 Patton, a tank model operational during the Korean War*M47 Patton, a tank model in service from 1952 through 1959 with the U.S. Army, and through the mid 1990s in foreign service...
.
FirePower OHV V8
Chrysler applied their military experience with the hemispherical combustion chamber to their first overhead-valve V8 engineV8 engine
A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....
, released under the name FirePower, not "Hemi", in 1950 for the 1951 model year. The first version of the FirePower engine had a displacement of 331 cu in (5.4 l) and produced 180 bhp. Eventually, each Chrysler division had its own unique version of the FirePower engine, with different displacements and designations. These different versions share almost no parts in common. There was no Plymouth hemi engine until the 1964 426. Chrysler and Imperial
Imperial (automobile)
Imperial was the Chrysler Corporation's luxury automobile brand between 1955 and 1975, with a brief reappearance in 1981 to 1983.The Imperial name had been used since 1926, but was never a separate make, just the top-of-the-line Chrysler. In 1955, the company decided to spin it off as its own make...
called their versions the FirePower. DeSoto
DeSoto (automobile)
The DeSoto was a brand of automobile based in the United States, manufactured and marketed by the Chrysler Corporation from 1928 to 1961. The DeSoto logo featured a stylized image of Hernando de Soto...
called theirs the FireDome. Dodge had a smaller version, known as the Red Ram. Only Plymouth
Plymouth (automobile)
Plymouth was a marque of automobile based in the United States, produced by the Chrysler Corporation and its successor DaimlerChrysler.-Origins:...
didn't have a version; instead retaining the poly-head engines. Collectively, these 1951-'58 Hemi engines are now commonly referred to as first-generation Hemi engines, and the group can be identified by the rear-mounted distributor
Distributor
A distributor is a device in the ignition system of an internal combustion engine that routes high voltage from the ignition coil to the spark plugs in the correct firing order. The first reliable battery operated ignition was developed by Dayton Engineering Laboratories Co. and introduced in the...
and the spark plug
Spark plug
A spark plug is an electrical device that fits into the cylinder head of some internal combustion engines and ignites compressed fuels such as aerosol, gasoline, ethanol, and liquefied petroleum gas by means of an electric spark.Spark plugs have an insulated central electrode which is connected by...
s in a row down the center of wide valve covers.
Briggs Cunningham
Briggs Cunningham
Briggs Swift Cunningham II was an American entrepreneur and sportsman, who raced automobiles and yachts. Born into a wealthy family, he became a racing car constructor, driver, and team owner as well as a sports car manufacturer and automobile collector.He skippered the victorious yacht Columbia...
chose to use the Chrysler version in some of his race cars for international motor sports. A Chrysler-powered Cunningham C5-R won its class in 1953. Cunningham switched away from these designs in 1959 when Chrysler abandoned the hemispherical concept in favor of the wedge-head B engine
Chrysler B engine
Chrysler's B and RB engines are a series of big-block V8s which in 1958 replaced the first-generation Hemi engines. The B and RB engines use wedge-shaped combustion chambers....
.
Chrysler and Imperial
The Chrysler versions of the FirePower engine have a bore center distance of 4.5625 in (115.9 mm), larger than any other Chrysler engine except the B engine. All Chrysler FirePower engines are oversquare; the bore is larger than the stroke.331
This first FirePower engine, used from 1951 to 1955, has a bore of 3.8125 in (96.8 mm) and a stroke of 3.625 in (92.1 mm) for a piston displacement of 331 cu in (5.4 l). Most used a two-barrel carburetorCarburetor
A carburetor , carburettor, or carburetter is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. It is sometimes shortened to carb in North America and the United Kingdom....
and produced 180 bhp, with the famous exception of the 1955 Chrysler 300
Chrysler 300
The Chrysler 300 is a full-size upscale car first shown at the 2003 New York Auto Show as a concept car. Sales in the U.S. began in the spring of 2004 as an early 2005 model year car. Designed by Ralph Gilles, the new 300 was built as a high-end sedan while the SRT-8 model was designed to be the...
equipped with dual Carter WCFB four-barrel carburetors.
The 331 engine was used in the following applications:
- 1951–1955 Chrysler New YorkerChrysler New YorkerThe Chrysler New Yorker was a premium automobile built by the Chrysler Corporation from 1939–1996, serving for several years as the brand's flagship model. A model named the "New York Special" first appeared in the 1930s...
- 1951–1954 Chrysler ImperialChrysler ImperialThe Chrysler Imperial, introduced in 1926, was the company's top of the range vehicle for much of its history. Models were produced with the Chrysler name until 1954, and again from 1990 to 1993. The company tried to position the cars as a prestige marque that would rival Cadillac and Lincoln...
and 1955 ImperialImperial (automobile)Imperial was the Chrysler Corporation's luxury automobile brand between 1955 and 1975, with a brief reappearance in 1981 to 1983.The Imperial name had been used since 1926, but was never a separate make, just the top-of-the-line Chrysler. In 1955, the company decided to spin it off as its own make...
* 1951 Chrysler SaratogaChrysler SaratogaThe Chrysler Saratoga was a full-sized automobile produced by the Chrysler Division of the Chrysler Corporation. Chrysler first used the Saratoga nameplate on its 1939 models and continued to use the name through to 1952. The name was used again by Chrysler from 1957 until 1960 when it retired the...
(optional) - 1952 Chrysler SaratogaChrysler SaratogaThe Chrysler Saratoga was a full-sized automobile produced by the Chrysler Division of the Chrysler Corporation. Chrysler first used the Saratoga nameplate on its 1939 models and continued to use the name through to 1952. The name was used again by Chrysler from 1957 until 1960 when it retired the...
Club Coupe (optional) - 1952 Chrysler Imperial Parade PhaetonChrysler Imperial Parade PhaetonThree Chrysler Imperial Parade Phaetons were produced in 1952 by the Chrysler Corporation as ceremonial vehicles. They were styled by Virgil Exner and were in many ways a preview of the new "Forward Look" styling that would debut in 1955 on the newly separate Imperial marque and on other full-size...
- 1955 Chrysler 300
- The Chrysler air raid sirenChrysler air raid sirenThe Chrysler Air Raid Siren, Or commonly known as the Chrysler Bell Victory Siren was an air raid siren produced during the Cold War era that had an output of 138 dB at .-History:...
. At 138 decibelDecibelThe decibel is a logarithmic unit that indicates the ratio of a physical quantity relative to a specified or implied reference level. A ratio in decibels is ten times the logarithm to base 10 of the ratio of two power quantities...
s, it is the loudest siren ever made.
354
The 354, released in 1956, had a bore of 3.9375 in (100 mm) and stroke of 3.625 in (92.1 mm). It was used in the 1956 New Yorker, Imperial Custom and Crown, and Chrysler 300B. Dodge used a modified version of this engine in the 1957 D-501. The 300B engine was rated at 340 bhp, while the New Yorker and Imperial 354 engine configuration produced 280 bhp. For the 300B an optional 355 hp version was available, making it the first American V-8 to be rated at one horsepower per cubic inch.392
The 392 raised-deck engine released in 1957 had a 4 in (101.6 mm) bore and 3.906 in (99.2 mm) stroke. The deck height, at 10.87 in (276.1 mm), was 0.5 in (13 mm) taller than that of the previous blocks. Because its deck was taller, the heads were cast wider so that earlier manifolds could be used with the new heads on the new taller block. The 392 was used in the 1957-1958 New Yorker, 1957 Chrysler 300C, 1958 Chrysler 300D, and 1957-1958 Imperial. For 1958, Chrysler offered the 392 in two configurations: 325 bhp with 9.25:1 compressionCompression ratio
The 'compression ratio' of an internal-combustion engine or external combustion engine is a value that represents the ratio of the volume of its combustion chamber from its largest capacity to its smallest capacity...
and 345 bhp with 10:1 compression, both with a single four-barrel carburetor. A dual four-barrel version of the 392 available in the 1957-58 Chrysler 300C & 300D cars was rated at 375 bhp. An extremely rare option available on the 1958 300D was Bendix "Electrojector" fuel injection
Fuel injection
Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
, with which the 392 was rated at 390 bhp. Due to reliability problems with the primitive onboard computer which controlled the injection, however, 15 of the 16 300D cars built with the fuel injection option were recalled and retrofitted with carburetors.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, drag racer
Drag racing
Drag racing is a competition in which specially prepared automobiles or motorcycles compete two at a time to be the first to cross a set finish line, from a standing start, in a straight line, over a measured distance, most commonly a ¼-mile straight track....
s found the 392 to be a formidable engine and continued to run them competitively into the 1970s.
DeSoto
276
In 1952, DeSotoDeSoto (automobile)
The DeSoto was a brand of automobile based in the United States, manufactured and marketed by the Chrysler Corporation from 1928 to 1961. The DeSoto logo featured a stylized image of Hernando de Soto...
introduced its version of the FirePower with a bore of 3.625 in (92.1 mm) and stroke of 3.344 in (84.9 mm), for a displacement of 276 cu in (4.5 l). Power output was 160 bhp. It was a hot seller, with 50,000 vehicles using the engine until it was replaced in 1955.
291
An increase in displacement to 291 cu in (4.8 l) was made for 1955 by increasing the bore to 3.72 in (94.5 mm).330
The DeSoto engine was enlarged for 1956 to 330 cu in (5.4 l). Bore was the same as the 291 at 3.72 in (94.5 mm), but stroke was increased to 3.8 in (96.5 mm) by dint of a taller raised-deck block. The DeSoto AdventurerDeSoto Adventurer
The DeSoto Adventurer is an automobile produced by the Chrysler Corporation and sold under its DeSoto automotive marque from 1956 through the 1960 model year. It was initially DeSoto's special, limited-production, high-performance model, similar to the Chrysler 300. While in production, the...
was the premiere named high-performance version—the DeSoto equivalent of the Chrysler 300—using dual Carter WCFB four-barrel carburetors.
341
Displacement was increased again for 1956 and 1957 to 341 cu in (5.6 l). Bore was now 3.78 in (96 mm) with stroke remaining at 3.8 in (96.5 mm). The DeSoto Adventurer produced 343 bhp using dual Carter WCFB four-barrel carburetors—more than one horsepower per cubic inch.345
The largest DeSoto engine for 1957 was the 345 cu in (5.7 l) unit with square bore and stroke dimensions of 3.8 in (96.5 mm). The DeSoto Adventurer used dual Carter WCFB four-barrel carburetors for a rating of345 bhp, again producing one horsepower per cubic inch.Dodge
Dodge's Hemi, introduced in 1953 as the Red Ram, has the smallest bore center distance of any Chrysler hemi engine: 4.1875 in (106.4 mm).241
Dodge introduced the 241 cu in (4 l) engine in 1953. Bore was 3.4375 in (87.3 mm) and stroke was 3.25 in (82.6 mm). With a low compression ratio of 7.1:1, the 241 produced 140 bhp. This engine is not the same as the Plymouth 241Chrysler A engine
The Chrysler A engine is a small-block V8 automobile engine from Chrysler Corporation. It was produced from 1956 until 1967, when it was replaced by the wedge-head LA engine. The A engine's combustion chambers are polyspherical, and it is not related to Chrysler's Hemi engines of the same era.The...
, which had polyspherical, not hemi heads.
270
The 270 displaced 268 cu in (4.4 l) and was used in the 1955 and 1956 Dodge high-line (premium) vehicles. Bore was 3.625 in (92.1 mm) and stroke was 3.25 in (82.6 mm). It was not the same as the Plymouth 270 poly-head. In the Dodge CoronetDodge Coronet
The Coronet was a full-size car from Dodge in the 1950s, initially the division's highest trim line but, starting in 1955, the lowest trim line. In the 1960s, the name was transferred to Dodge's mid-size entry.-1949:...
, running the same low 7.1:1 compression ratio as the 241, the 270 produced 140 bhp. In higher trims like the Dodge Meadowbrook
Dodge Meadowbrook
-1949-1954:The Dodge Meadowbrook was produced by Dodge and offered as the base line trim level from 1949-1954. It made up 30% of Dodge's sales in 1949, and came with "Safe-Guard Hydraulic Brakes" which included 2-cylinders per front brake. Dodge also advertised a new "cradled" ride, which was...
, it ran a 7.5:1 compression ratio and produced 150 bhp.
315
For 1956, Dodge increased the displacement to 315 cu in (5.2 l) with a longer 3.8 in (96.5 mm) stroke and a taller raised-deck block and now with a polyspherical heads—no longer a Hemi. But the optional high-performance D-500 version of this engine had a four-barrel carburetor and a modified DeSoto hemi head.325
Dodge released a 325 cu in (5.3 l) engine for 1957. The engine used a 3.6875 in (93.7 mm) bore and 3.8 in (96.5 mm) stroke.426: The Elephant
The 426 Hemi of the 1960s was an engine produced for use in NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
, used in a racing version of a Plymouth Belvedere
Plymouth Belvedere
The Plymouth Belvedere was an American automobile produced by Plymouth from 1951-1970.-1951–1953:Introduced on March 31, the 1951 Plymouth Belvedere arrived as a two-door pillarless hardtop. It was Plymouth's first vehicle of such design and was built in response to Chevrolet's Bel Air...
in 1964. It was not initially available to the general buying public. The 426 Hemi was not allowed to compete in NASCAR's 1965 season due to its unavailability in production vehicles sold to the general public. Chrysler introduced the "Street" Hemi in 1966 for its intermediate range of cars and sold the required number of Hemi engines to the public to legimatize its use for NASCAR in 1966.
Although all manufacturers were familiar with multi-valve engines and hemispherical combustion chambers, adding more valves per cylinder, or designing the complex valve train needed for a hemispherical chamber, were expensive ways of improving the high-RPM breathing of production vehicles. By canting the angle of the NASCAR-mandated two valves per cylinder, significantly larger valves could be used. The Chrysler hemi had an oversquare 4.25 in (108 mm) bore and 3.75 in (95.3 mm) stroke as did the wedge-chambered big-block Chrysler RB.
The 426 Hemi also was used in NHRA drag racing. Its large casting allowed the engine to be overbored and stroked to displacements unattainable in the other engines of the day. Top-fuel racing organizers limited the bore spacing of engines until very recently, when under pressure from Ford and other manufacturers, the bore spacing allowed was increased to 4.900" - this allows other engines such as the Ford 385
Ford 385 engine
The Ford 385 engine family was the Ford Motor Company's final big block V8 engine design, replacing the Ford MEL engine and gradually superseding the Ford FE engine family...
series to begin to compete. The engines based on the old Chrysler design predominate Top Fuel and Funny Car classes due to plentiful parts, large amount of research and development, as well as decades of experience with the problems of the engine's design. In NHRA top fuel racing today, the engine bears little resemblance to any engine produced by Chrysler; it is usually equipped with a large Roots type supercharger
Roots type supercharger
The Roots type supercharger or Roots blower is a positive displacement lobe pump which operates by pumping fluids with a pair of meshing lobes not unlike a set of stretched gears. Fluid is trapped in pockets surrounding the lobes and carried from the intake side to the exhaust...
and short individual exhaust pipes, and fueled with nitromethane
Nitromethane
Nitromethane is an organic compound with the chemical formula . It is the simplest organic nitro compound. It is a slightly viscous, highly polar liquid commonly used as a solvent in a variety of industrial applications such as in extractions, as a reaction medium, and as a cleaning solvent...
.
The 426 Hemi, in "street Hemi" form, was produced for consumer automobiles from 1965 through 1971. There were many differences between the Hemi and the Wedge-head big-block, including cross-bolted main bearing caps and a different head bolt pattern. There were also many differences between the racing Hemi's and the street Hemi, including but not limited to compression ratio, camshaft, intake manifold, exhaust manifold. Some 1960s NASCAR & NHRA Hemi engines featured magnesium cross-ram intake manifolds and magnesium oil pans in an attempt to reduce the massive weight of the overall engine, along with chain-driven internal dry-sump oil systems. Today, aftermarket blocks, heads, intakes, rods and pistons are usually made of aluminum.
The street Hemi version was rated at 425 bhp(Gross) with two Carter AFB carburetor
Carburetor
A carburetor , carburettor, or carburetter is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. It is sometimes shortened to carb in North America and the United Kingdom....
s. In actual dynomometer testing, it produced 433.5 horsepower and 472 lbft torque in purely stock form. Interestingly, Chrysler's sales literature published both Gross and Net HP ratings for 1971 (425 Gross HP and 350 Net HP.)
To avoid confusion with earlier (1951-'58) and current Hemi engines, the 426-based Hemi is sometimes called the "2G" or "Gen 2" Hemi.
The street version of the 2G Hemi engine was used (optionally, in all but the last case) in the following vehicles:
- 1966–1970 Dodge CoronetDodge CoronetThe Coronet was a full-size car from Dodge in the 1950s, initially the division's highest trim line but, starting in 1955, the lowest trim line. In the 1960s, the name was transferred to Dodge's mid-size entry.-1949:...
/Plymouth BelvederePlymouth BelvedereThe Plymouth Belvedere was an American automobile produced by Plymouth from 1951-1970.-1951–1953:Introduced on March 31, the 1951 Plymouth Belvedere arrived as a two-door pillarless hardtop. It was Plymouth's first vehicle of such design and was built in response to Chevrolet's Bel Air... - 1966–1971 Plymouth SatellitePlymouth SatelliteThe Plymouth Satellite is an automobile introduced in 1965 as the top model in Plymouth's mid-size Belvedere line. The Satellite remained the top of the line model until the 1967 model year, where it became the mid-price model with the GTX taking its place as the top model. The Fury name was moved...
- 1966–1971 Dodge ChargerDodge Charger (B-body)The Dodge Charger was a mid-size automobile produced by Dodge. The 1966-1974 Chargers were based on the Chrysler B platform. The 1975-1978 Chargers were based on the Chrysler Cordoba.-Origin of the Charger:...
- 1967–1971 Plymouth GTXPlymouth GTXThe Plymouth GTX was introduced as the Belvedere GTX in 1967 by the Plymouth division to be a "gentleman's" muscle car.It's most notable appearance in modern popular culture is in the television series Angel, in which the title character drove a black 1967 model.-1967:It was to be an exceptional...
- 1968-1969 Dodge DartDodge DartThe Dodge Dart is an automobile built by the Dodge division of the Chrysler Corporation from 1960-1976 in North America, with production extended to later years in various other markets. The Dart was introduced as a lower-priced, shorter wheelbase, full-size Dodge in 1960 and 1961, became a...
(These could be ordered from any Chrysler dealership by anyone who could afford it and were legal for the street.) - 1968-1969 Plymouth BarracudaPlymouth BarracudaThe Plymouth Barracuda is a 2-door car that was manufactured by the Plymouth division of the Chrysler Corporation from 1964-1974.The first-generation Barracuda, a fastback A-body coupe based on the Plymouth Valiant, had a distinctive wraparound back glass and was available from 1964-1966.The...
(These could be ordered from any Chrysler dealership by anyone who could afford it and were legal for the street.) - 1968–1971 Dodge Super BeeDodge Super BeeThe Dodge Super Bee was a limited-production muscle car from Dodge, produced from 1968-1971. The Super Bee model was resurrected for the 2007, 2008 and 2009 model Dodge Charger Super Bee.-1968–1970:...
- 1968–1971 Plymouth Roadrunner
- 1969 Dodge Charger DaytonaDodge Charger DaytonaDodge, an American automobile brand, has produced three separate vehicles with the name Dodge Charger Daytona, all of which were modified Dodge Chargers. The name is taken from Daytona Beach, Florida, which was an early center for auto racing and still hosts the Daytona 500, one of NASCAR's premier...
- 1970 Plymouth SuperbirdPlymouth SuperbirdThe short-lived Plymouth Road Runner Superbird was a highly modified version of the Plymouth Road Runner with well known graphics and horn. It was the factory's follow up stock car racing design for the 1970 season to the Dodge Charger Daytona of 1969, and incorporated many engineering changes and...
- 1970–1971 Plymouth BarracudaPlymouth BarracudaThe Plymouth Barracuda is a 2-door car that was manufactured by the Plymouth division of the Chrysler Corporation from 1964-1974.The first-generation Barracuda, a fastback A-body coupe based on the Plymouth Valiant, had a distinctive wraparound back glass and was available from 1964-1966.The...
- 1970–1971 Dodge ChallengerDodge ChallengerThe Dodge Challenger is the name of three different generations of automobiles marketed by the Dodge division of Chrysler.The first generation Dodge Challenger was a pony car built from 1970 to 1974, using the Chrysler E platform and sharing major components with the Plymouth Barracuda. The second...
- 1970 Monteverdi Hai 450Monteverdi Hai 450The Monteverdi Hai 450 SS was a prototype and follow on to the 375 High Speed. It was intended to be a direct competitor to the top of the list super sports cars of Lamborghini, Ferrari and Maserati....
Modern Hemi
The current-production "HEMI" engine heads are flatter and more complex than the 1950s–'70s Hemi V8 chamber. The chambers are no longer truly hemispherical. It uses a coil-on-plug distributorless ignition system and two spark plugs per cylinder to shorten flame travel leading to more consistent combustion which helps reduce emissions. Like most of Chrysler's past-model Hemi-head engines, the 5.7 version is rated at approximately one horsepower per cubic inch, however the updated 2009 model produces even more than that.A new variable displacement
Variable displacement
Variable displacement is an automobile engine technology that allows the engine displacement to change, usually by deactivating cylinders, for improved fuel economy. The technology is primarily used in large, multi-cylinder engines...
technology called Multi-Displacement System
Multi-Displacement System
Chrysler's Multi-Displacement System is an automobile engine variable displacement technology. It debuted in 2004 on the 5.7 L modern Hemi V8...
(MDS) is used in some versions which can shut off two cylinders on each bank under light load to improve fuel economy. For the 2009 model year power has been bumped up to 357-390 horsepower (266-291 kW) and 389-410 lb·ft (527-556 N·m) depending on application. It also gets 4% better fuel economy. Variable valve timing (VVT) was also introduced.
5.7
The '5.7 L Hemi' was released for model year 2003 on the Dodge RamDodge Ram
The Dodge Ram is a full-size pickup truck manufactured by the Chrysler Group LLC. As of late 2010, it has been sold under the Ram Trucks brand. Previously, Ram was part of the Dodge lineup of light trucks...
2500 and 3500 pickup truck
Pickup truck
A pickup truck is a light motor vehicle with an open-top rear cargo area .-Definition:...
s to replace the Magnum 5.9 engine. It also replaced the 8.0L V-10 engine in the heavy duty Ram. As of 2004 it was the only available gasoline engine in the Ram Heavy Duty. Chrysler has since made the 5.7 L Hemi available in all models of the 2004 Dodge Ram
Dodge Ram
The Dodge Ram is a full-size pickup truck manufactured by the Chrysler Group LLC. As of late 2010, it has been sold under the Ram Trucks brand. Previously, Ram was part of the Dodge lineup of light trucks...
, Dodge Durango
Dodge Durango
The Dodge Durango is a full-size crossover SUV from the Dodge division of Chrysler. It was introduced in 1998 as a mid-size SUV, and as a replacement for the Ramcharger discontinued in the North American market in 1993, and was redesigned to full-size for 2004....
, the 2005 Chrysler 300C, Dodge Magnum R/T
Dodge Magnum
The Dodge Magnum name has been used on a number of different automobiles. The most recent is a large rear-wheel drive station wagon introduced in 2004 for the 2005 model year and produced through to 2008. This new Magnum is Dodge's first car to use the new Chrysler LX platform, shared with the...
, Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a Mid-size SUV produced by the Jeep division of Chrysler. While some other SUVs were manufactured with body on frame construction, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has always used a unibody chassis.- Development :...
, the 2006 Dodge Charger R/T
Dodge Charger
The Dodge Charger is an American automobile manufactured by the Dodge division of Chrysler. There have been several different Dodge vehicles, built on three different platforms and sizes, all bearing the Charger nameplate...
, and the 2009 Dodge Challenger
Dodge Challenger
The Dodge Challenger is the name of three different generations of automobiles marketed by the Dodge division of Chrysler.The first generation Dodge Challenger was a pony car built from 1970 to 1974, using the Chrysler E platform and sharing major components with the Plymouth Barracuda. The second...
R/T. For Challenger, the 6 speed version will not feature MDS.
The 345 cu in (5.7 l) Hemi in the Ram delivered 345 hp and 375 lbft, but 340 hp and 390 lbft for the 300C and Magnum R/T, which is exactly 100 hp more than the old 5.9 engine. It is a 90-degree V8, 2-valve pushrod design like the past LA engines, displacing 5654 cc, with a bore of 99.5 mm (3.92 in) and a stroke of 90.9 mm (3.58 in).
The 5.7 L Hemi is made at Chrysler's Saltillo Engine
Saltillo Engine
Saltillo Engine is a Chrysler engine plant in Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila, Mexico. The factory opened in 1981. It was built as a scale model of the plant at Trenton, Michigan, United States, but with more work flexibility, having only 20 job classifications rather than the 70 at Trenton.Current...
plant in Ramos Arizpe
Ramos Arizpe
Ramos Arizpe is a city and seat of the surrounding municipality of the same name in the Mexican state of Coahuila. Ramos Arizpe is located 11 km from the state capital of Saltillo. It is part of the Saltillo metropolitan area. The city reported a population of 48,228 in the 2005 census; the...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
The Hemi was on the Ward's 10 Best Engines
Ward's 10 Best Engines
Ward's 10 Best Engines is an annual list of the ten "best" automobile engines available in the U.S. market, that are selected by Ward's AutoWorld magazine. The list was started in 1994, and has been drawn every year since then....
list for 2003 through 2007, and again in 2009.
This engine is used in the following vehicles:
- 2003–present Dodge RamDodge RamThe Dodge Ram is a full-size pickup truck manufactured by the Chrysler Group LLC. As of late 2010, it has been sold under the Ram Trucks brand. Previously, Ram was part of the Dodge lineup of light trucks...
- 2004–2009, 2011–present Dodge DurangoDodge DurangoThe Dodge Durango is a full-size crossover SUV from the Dodge division of Chrysler. It was introduced in 1998 as a mid-size SUV, and as a replacement for the Ramcharger discontinued in the North American market in 1993, and was redesigned to full-size for 2004....
- 2005–present Chrysler 300Chrysler 300The Chrysler 300 is a full-size upscale car first shown at the 2003 New York Auto Show as a concept car. Sales in the U.S. began in the spring of 2004 as an early 2005 model year car. Designed by Ralph Gilles, the new 300 was built as a high-end sedan while the SRT-8 model was designed to be the...
300C - 2005–2008 Dodge MagnumDodge MagnumThe Dodge Magnum name has been used on a number of different automobiles. The most recent is a large rear-wheel drive station wagon introduced in 2004 for the 2005 model year and produced through to 2008. This new Magnum is Dodge's first car to use the new Chrysler LX platform, shared with the...
R/T - 2005–present Dodge ChargerDodge Charger (LX)The Dodge Charger LX is a rear-wheel drive four-door automobile introduced in February 2005. Built by Chrysler for its North American Dodge brand, the car was created to continue the Dodge Charger line, and replaced the Dodge Intrepid as Dodge's full-size sedan...
R/T - 2005–present Jeep Grand CherokeeJeep Grand CherokeeThe Jeep Grand Cherokee is a Mid-size SUV produced by the Jeep division of Chrysler. While some other SUVs were manufactured with body on frame construction, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has always used a unibody chassis.- Development :...
- 2006–2010 Jeep CommanderJeep CommanderThe Jeep Commander is a mid size SUV produced from 2006 to 2010. The first use of the Commander name on a passenger vehicle was the popular Studebaker Commander which was produced from the 1920s through 1966....
- 2007–2009 Chrysler AspenChrysler AspenThe Chrysler Aspen is a full-size sport utility vehicle from Chrysler. Launched for the 2007 model year, the Aspen is essentially a rebranded Dodge Durango SUV...
- 2009–present Dodge ChallengerDodge ChallengerThe Dodge Challenger is the name of three different generations of automobiles marketed by the Dodge division of Chrysler.The first generation Dodge Challenger was a pony car built from 1970 to 1974, using the Chrysler E platform and sharing major components with the Plymouth Barracuda. The second...
R/T
2009 Revisions
Chrysler has made various revisions to the 5.7 L for the 2009 model year. The first for all applications is what Chrysler calls Variable Camshaft Timing or VCT. VCT (which is essentially variable valve timingVariable valve timing
In internal combustion engines, variable valve timing , also known as Variable valve actuation , is a generalized term used to describe any mechanism or method that can alter the shape or timing of a valve lift event within an internal combustion engine...
) uses an oil control valve which controls oil flow to a unique camshaft sprocket which contains a phasing device, which depending on the operation of the oil control valve either advances or retards camshaft timing.
Cylinder heads have been revised to increase flow. Though the intake manifold has also been changed on all applications, it is however model specific. Dodge Ram, non-Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) Chrysler Aspens, and non-HEV Dodge Durango utilize an active intake manifold with a short runner valve to optimize torque and horsepower. At lower engine RPM the valve is closed, resulting in improved low-end torque from the longer runners. At higher engine RPM the valve is opened, diverting the incoming air into the center of the manifold. The shorter runners results in improved horsepower. Passenger cars, Jeep vehicles, and HEV Chrysler Aspen & HEV Dodge Durango do not use this manifold, these vehicles utilize a passive intake manifold, which does not have a short runner valve.
Six-speed manual transmission and all Heavy Duty truck applications will differ by not having the Multiple Displacement System (MDS). The new version of the 5.7L has five different camshaft profiles. All will have VCT.
- Active intake with MDS
- Active intake without MDS
- Passive intake with MDS
- Passive intake without MDS
- HEV Application (modified version of passive intake with MDS)
2009 to present Power Numbers
- 300C: 360 hp, 390 lbft
- Charger R/T: 368 hp, 395 lbft
- Challenger R/T 5 Speed Automatic: 372 hp, 401 lbft
- Challenger R/T 6 Speed Manual: 375 hp, 410 lbft
- Ram 1500 Truck: 390 hp, 407 lbft
- Ram 2500/3500 Truck: 383 hp, 404 lbft
- Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Commander: 357 hp, 389 lbft
- Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango non-HEV: 376 hp, 401 lbft
- Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango HEV: 390 hp, 390 lbft
6.1
The Hemi is also available in a 6059 cc version. The engine's bore is 4.055 in (103 mm), and many other changes were made to allow it to produce 425 hp at 6200 rpm and 420 lbft at 4800 rpm. The engine block is different from the 5.7, with revised coolant channels and oil jets to cool the pistons. A forgedForged
Forged is a book written by biblical scholar, Bart D. Ehrman which attempts to analyze the historical accuracy of the Christian Bible. The book posits that 11 or more books out of the 27 books of the Christian New Testament canon were written as certain types of forgeries related to the politics...
crankshaft, lighter pistons, and strengthened connecting rods add durability. A cast aluminum intake manifold is tuned for high-RPM power and does not include variable-length
Variable Length Intake Manifold
In internal combustion engines, a variable length intake manifold , or variable intake manifold is an automobile internal combustion engine manifold technology...
technology. Chrysler's Multi-Displacement System
Multi-Displacement System
Chrysler's Multi-Displacement System is an automobile engine variable displacement technology. It debuted in 2004 on the 5.7 L modern Hemi V8...
is not used on the 6.1.
Applications:
- 2005–2010 Chrysler 300Chrysler 300The Chrysler 300 is a full-size upscale car first shown at the 2003 New York Auto Show as a concept car. Sales in the U.S. began in the spring of 2004 as an early 2005 model year car. Designed by Ralph Gilles, the new 300 was built as a high-end sedan while the SRT-8 model was designed to be the...
C SRT–8 - 2005–2008 Dodge MagnumDodge MagnumThe Dodge Magnum name has been used on a number of different automobiles. The most recent is a large rear-wheel drive station wagon introduced in 2004 for the 2005 model year and produced through to 2008. This new Magnum is Dodge's first car to use the new Chrysler LX platform, shared with the...
SRT-8 - 2006–2010 Dodge ChargerDodge Charger (LX)The Dodge Charger LX is a rear-wheel drive four-door automobile introduced in February 2005. Built by Chrysler for its North American Dodge brand, the car was created to continue the Dodge Charger line, and replaced the Dodge Intrepid as Dodge's full-size sedan...
SRT-8 - 2006–2010 Jeep Grand CherokeeJeep Grand CherokeeThe Jeep Grand Cherokee is a Mid-size SUV produced by the Jeep division of Chrysler. While some other SUVs were manufactured with body on frame construction, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has always used a unibody chassis.- Development :...
SRT-8 - 2008–2010 Dodge ChallengerDodge ChallengerThe Dodge Challenger is the name of three different generations of automobiles marketed by the Dodge division of Chrysler.The first generation Dodge Challenger was a pony car built from 1970 to 1974, using the Chrysler E platform and sharing major components with the Plymouth Barracuda. The second...
SRT-8
6.4 / 392
Chrysler displayed a larger 392.1 cu in (6.4 l) Hemi in 2005 with output 525 hp and 510 lbft torque. It is based on an iron 6.1 L engine block with aluminium alloy pistons.This engine has been available since 2007, as a crateCrate engine
An automobile engine replacement is an engine or a major part of one that is sold individually without any other parts required to make a functional car...
under the name 392 Hemi.
The production version of the 392 Hemi was launched in the 2011 Dodge Challenger SRT8 with variable camshaft timing as well as MDS in cars with automatic transmissions. In late 2009 Chrysler has said the new engine will be available in the next generation SRT8 Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300C and Jeep Grand Cherokee. Special-edition Challengers equipped with this engine, and the engines themselves, will bear "392 HEMI" badging in commemorative reference to the first-generation Hemi engine of the same piston displacement. In other applications, the engine is badged as "6.4L HEMI". It is much more similar to the revised 5.7L V8 Hemi that was released in 2009 and is a completely different block and build than the 392 crate engine.
Output is 470 hp and 470 lbft. Availability of the 6.4 is to expand to the Chrysler 300SRT8, Dodge Charger SRT8, and the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8.
Marketing
In February to April 2005, DaimlerChrysler hosted a 'What Can You HEMI?' contest promoting alternative uses of the HEMI engines. The top 5 finalist include HEMI Snowblower (designed by Tim Flucht of Belleville, Michigan), HEMI-Go-Round (by Jonathan Brzon of Topeka, Kansas) carousel, HEMI on Ice ice resurfacer (designed by MSX International), HEMI-Shredder (designed by Randy Fredner of Earlysville, VA), HEMI Big Wheel, i.e. the child's tricycle of the 70's (designed by Marcus Brauns of Vancouver, British Columbia). The winner was HEMI Big Wheel, which had a 5.7L HEMI in the back, which was installed backwards, thus reverse became the only forward gear. Plate steel was the predominant material used to make this remarkable machine. A rolled tube of steel had to be utilized for the front tire as there were no such tires 4' in diameter that were as narrow as needed for this project.As collector items
Dodge and Plymouth Hemi-powered cars produced between the model years of 1965 and 1971 have become collector's items (as have other muscle carMuscle car
Muscle car is a term used to refer to a variety of high-performance automobiles. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines muscle cars as "any of a group of American-made 2-door sports coupes with powerful engines designed for high-performance driving." Usually, a large V8 engine is fitted in a...
s manufactured during this era).